NORFOLK
At the end of this semester, Steven Aird will lose his job as an associate professor of biology at Norfolk State University for giving out too many F's.
He is not going quietly.
Aird says his termination is part of a dumbing-down of academic standards at NSU - a move by administrators to intimidate faculty members into passing undeserving students and rewarding inferior work.
Other faculty members in NSU's School of Science and Technology say they, too, have experienced pressure to bend their standards to pass more students, and more than a dozen current and former students in the school back up Aird's claim.
Because it is a personnel issue, NSU administrators declined to comment directly about Aird's case. But Sharon Hoggard, a university spokeswoman, flatly rejected Aird's accusation that the school has dumbed down its standards.
"It goes against our very mission, which is to provide an affordable high-quality education for an ethnically and culturally diverse student population," Hoggard said in an e-mail response. She pointed out that NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, for which it must meet stringent standards.
Aird says he understands, and believes in, NSU's mission. But he insists that too many of the university's students are ill-prepared for college-level work. "I really care about my students," he said. "That's why I refuse to lower the bar. The objective should be competence, not grades."
For more than four years, Aird has carried on a running battle in which NSU administrators repeatedly pressed him to raise his pass rate and he steadfastly refused.
Twice, he was denied tenure and issued a one-year terminal contract, meaning he would have to leave at the end of the year. After the first denial, he filed a grievance. A faculty grievance committee found in his favor, ruling that the tenure decision was flawed by procedural violations and retaliatory actions by administrators.
He reapplied and was turned down again, despite a favorable recommendation by a departmental tenure review committee. Citing seven classes in which 83 to 95 percent of his students got a D or F, Sandra DeLoatch, dean of the School of Science and Technology, wrote that Aird's "core problem" was "the overwhelming failure of the vast majority of the students he teaches."
His bosses say it's the teacher's responsibility to make sure the lessons are getting through. Carol Simpson, provost at Old Dominion University, agreed that a professor's high failure rate would be an appropriate matter for some type of intervention.
"It would send a flag that something is amiss," she said. "What that something is - it could be all kinds of things, depending on the class and the students and the professor. But it does say that all is not well. You would expect a reasonable bell-shaped curve where the top part of the bell is maybe a middle C. You wouldn't expect to have huge numbers failing."
The problem could be the difficulty of the material, the students' level of preparation or the way the material is being presented, Simpson said.
"Not every professor is an expert in the classroom," she said, "although they may be terrific researchers or scholars."
Hoggard, the NSU spokeswoman, said the university uses a multifaceted assessment of teaching effectiveness based on faculty portfolios, student ratings, peer evaluations and comments from the department chair and dean.
This semester, his last, Aird has been removed from the classroom. He spends his time doing research and job-hunting. At 55, he faces the possible end of his academic career.
Aird grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington and earned a doctorate in zoology from Colorado State University. A published researcher, he specializes in the chemistry of poisonous snake venoms.
After four years as a university teacher and researcher in Brazil, he came to NSU in 2002 and was assigned to the chemistry department. His first semester, 22 of the 24 students in his biochemistry course got Ds, Fs or dropped the class. In a November 2003 memo, Associate Dean Larry Mattix warned him: "This low level of student success is unacceptable."
In 2004, Aird was reassigned to the biology department.
The issue surfaced again quickly. In a December 2004 memo, Camellia Okpodu, the biology department chair, expressed alarm about the grades in lab sections of the freshman-level biology course. Dean DeLoatch, in rejecting Aird's application for tenure in March 2007, reiterated the theme again.
Each time, Aird's response was unbending. "I believe that we serve our students and our country best when we help our students to discover and develop their abilities, and when we help them develop the intellectual tools and the strength of character to overcome the obstacles they will encounter in life," he wrote in reply to Okpodu. "That cannot be accomplished, as so many at NSU have tried, by pandering to them and to their parents with inflated grades and pass rates."
To support his allegations of grade inflation, Aird performed a statistical analysis of two common exams that were given to all students taking the freshman-level biology course in the fall of 2005. The median grade in all sections on both exams - taught by five different professors - was F.
His final grades were an accurate reflection of students' performance on those two exams, Aird wrote the dean.
Hoggard said attributing the discrepancy between exam results and final grades to grade inflation is too simplistic.
"Every student doesn't learn in the same way," she said. "It becomes the duty of the faculty member to find ways to ensure that his or her students are understanding the material."
Student testimonials to Aird cite his passion for biology, his enthusiasm in the classroom and his willingness to help students who are struggling.
Natalie James, a senior biology major, took Aird's zoology class in 2006. "He told us at the beginning of the semester, 'It's going to hurt, and I'm going to really push you.'
"I was up at 2 o'clock many mornings e-mailing him with questions. It was a challenge the whole time."
James said Aird had a pleasant attitude and she learned more than she could have imagined in one semester. At the end of the course, she said, "I came out with an A by the skin of my teeth."
In contrast, James said, she easily received an A in another class. "Yes, it looks nice when you get out with a 4.0 GPA, but then you go to medical school and you know nothing."
Tiana Stephenson, a junior journalism major, took Aird's freshman biology class in 2005 and found it difficult, despite Aird's out-of-class assistance.
"I got a D - the only one I've ever gotten," she said. "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have taken his course. I was still in a high-school mindset, and he's not a high-school teacher."
Some of Aird's colleagues agree that professors feel pressure to pass more students.
At the School of Science and Technology, said Joseph Hall, a chemistry professor and president of the Faculty Senate, "faculty are - I'll use a nice word - encouraged to try and pass 70 percent of their students." If the rate drops below 70 percent, he said, "faculty are called in and asked to explain what they're going to do about it."
Aird thinks the phenomenon is due in part to the evolution of a "consumer culture" in higher education. He argues that administrators are tempted to placate students and parents with good grades to keep the tuition dollars flowing.
The financial pressure is particularly acute at NSU. Alone among Virginia state schools, most of which are experiencing significant growth, NSU's enrollment has declined by more than one-third over the past 15 years.
Hall echoed Aird's view that many NSU students come poorly prepared for college work.
Because so many have deficient study habits and poor writing skills, he said, "if you adhere to a certain standard, you would flunk a significant number of them, and you have to do something to try to get them to catch up." For instance, Hall said, he gives optional bonus quizzes to help students pull up their grades.
Hall said he counseled Aird to be more flexible, to no avail.
"I think what Steve decided was that the university should put programs in place to build up the background of the students, or admit better students. And he stuck to those guns."
Cassandra Newby-Alexander, an NSU history professor and vice president of the Faculty Senate, chaired the faculty committee that upheld Aird's grievance. She said there's always room for improving one's teaching technique, but she felt Aird deserved a chance to be mentored. "He didn't get the fair shake he should have had an opportunity to get."
Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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earn the grade
"The System" gets bad press when minority students are promoted without earning their grades. Now that a professor wants to make the students earn their grades, he loses his job. If this was a minority professor down the road at ODU, he wouldn't be fired for doing his job. Yes, non-minorities can place that "card" too.
You get out of it what you put into it!
I transferred from ODU to NSU in order to take advantage of the minority transfer grant. Realizing I needed the education to be successful in my chosen career field, I worked very hard to acquire the necessary level of knowledge. As a NSU student, I would go to the ODU library to study. NSU had been neglected and did not have the same quality of resources that ODU had. However, NSU was more challenging than many of you may think. I graduated with honors and proceeded to graduate school at Regent University where I finished with a 3.95 GPA. I have been in my career for 10 years and earn about 17K more than my peers with the same education and experience. Once again, you get out of it what you put into it, so don't stereotype every student that has an NSU degree as incompetent.
"AKADEMIK"
Are we now judging on appearances? We all know that that is a big no-no. It is SO obvious what your true problem is. On another note, happy voting to all when the general election starts. =)
you get what you give
Gee, I just had this discussion last week when report cards came out. Did you know that you were doing poorly in that class? What did you do about it? How much extra time did you put in to get caught up? Who's fault is it that you failed that class? (She got that last question right.)
An education that isn't earned is worth nothing. Do the work, get educated, and be proud of your accomplishment. Diplomas are worthless if the recipient didn't get the benefit of an education.
NSU needs more professors like this. There are standards in the real world, and the sooner people learn it the better off they will be.
jmo
What is the problem?
I was shocked at one comment that stated a professor at NSU should teach reading for the first half of the period and the material in the second half. Teaching reading is NOT the job of a college biology professor.
I saw this happen when I first attended college - the ACT & SAT's for many incoming students showed a lack of core knowledge and skills (did not learn in High School) and before they could take the 100 level (freshman courses) they had to take and pass the the 000 level courses to bring their reading, math, and science courses up to a level where they could do college level work. Along the way, their study habits would have to kick in or they would be history.
I believe many junior colleges in Virginia have courses to bring up the basic skills.
Science courses are always tough and require a real commitment to pass. My hat is off to the professor for sticking to his guns at the risk of his own job.
And the problem is the students
Um… No. A university professor does not have time to teach students how to read. The problem is that NSU is admitting students who are not ready for college-level work and then they act surprised when said students fail. University studies should not be remedial in nature but they are. NSU set this professor up for failure by admitting students who were completely incapable of doing the work because they did everything but study while they were in high school. Now they expect him to just pass them. As a teacher, I’m surprised you are so against this professor for wanting to have standards. Wait… no I’m not. Frankly, these students need to go figure out how to get their read on before they try to get their learn on.
On the other side of the spectrum...
At a small liberal arts college in PA known as Franklin & Marshall, I believe the school hasn't given out a perfect 4.0 average in a many, many years. Employers and grad schools know this and know the students work hard for their grades.
This professor at NSU teaches biology, which is a "weed out" course. The school should be paying HIM more money just to stay there and teach (his background sounds fine). If I were a parent of a college aged child, I would tell my child to study harder or they should have dropped his course if they didn't like him as a teacher. This goes on at all colleges...and they do not simply let the professor go.
When Most Of Your Students Are Failing, There Is A Problem
I don't care how many doctorate degrees you have. If most of your students are failing, the problem is YOU. I don't care if half of your class cannot read worth a lick. You are supposed to teach them how to read half of the class period and the materials the other half of the period. As a certified public school teacher, I can tell you that teachers are blamed if the students are failing. But what is the problem with this professor's students? Does he have a class full of students with learning problems? Or does he grade too hard? I am not going to bash NSU or their professors even though I only took one class at NSU and graduated from ODU, where EXTRA CREDIT and CURVES do not exist in the Art, English, or Education Department. You receive the grade that you earn in each and every class.
Norfolk State University's Unique Charge
NSU’s diverse students require individualized attention, and in delivering it, Norfolk State finds its greatest pride. Many graduates are admitted to prestigious graduate and professional programs, or satisfactorily employed. That success is a combination of the students’ perseverance and the preparation they received. The challenge remains in providing quality education that will save the student who has been disregarded while entrusted to the current K-12 education system. NSU has taken the challenge; it may not have done a perfect job, but who else has accepted the charge? It is quite easy to educate students who can make it anywhere. What about trying to provide education to those who have been neglected so far? When will you begin?
It is no secret, THERE IS NO ACADEMIC STANDARD at NSU
Last time I drove by Norfolk State with my convertible top down, I had a diploma in my back seat when I got home. There was actually a signed diploma with the name left blank. It has long been known by everyone in this area that NSU certainly does not have nearly the same standards as say Old Dominion. This is a FACT and anyone who hides behind the banner that this is a racist statement will never get to the root of the real problem. It is a discredit to all races, when standards are not set the same for every and all races. Mr. Aird should be promoted to a State office that oversees academic standards.
CHATTY COMMENT: A Leader in the Making
Very well then, good for you. Continue to study hard, seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave, and better your community in each and every way possible. (Voter-Registration drives, Keep America Beautiful Litter Cleanups, Neighborhood Adopt a Spot's Litter Prevention, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation Clean the Bay Day cleanups/June 7, 2008)
Show your leadership and volunteer for any of the following groups:
Keep America Beautiful: www.kab.org
Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Clean the Bay Day: http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=state_sub_va_hamptonroads_clean
Arbor Day Foundation(10 Free trees and a Year Membership for $15.00)
www.arborday.org
Nothing surprising here
Those of you alumni who are defending NSU, good on ya. I’d expect nothing less. However, considering that the “university” has the lowest SAT scores of any school in the Commonwealth says a lot about it. I have attended classes at ODU, NSU and several out of state schools and I have to say that the "students" at NSU were... how to put this delicately... the least prepared for college-level work than any others I encountered by FAR. It's unsurprising that so many struggled when presented with - TA DA!! college-level work. The only surprising thing about this story was that someone in the NSU administration was distracted from the “university’s” latest extortion racket to notice anything going on in the classroom. I suppose trying to get the president a new house can only hold your attention for so long.
YOUTUBE, MYSPACE: CONTINUED
A college degree is attained through hard work, discipline, focus, time management, and a true dedication to better one's self AND THE WORLD AROUND US. One has to dedicate several years of their life to one purpose: the exhaustive search for knowledge and meaning. If indivuduals who wish to attend college are not in possession of these traits they should seek their entertainment elsewhere.
YOUTUBE,MYSPACE,CELL PHONES= MASS IGNORANCE
'You can't teach the same way you did years and years ago. You must continue to grow and learn how to teach the students of TODAY. We are in the TEXT MESSAGING, YOU TUBING, MYSPACING, FACEBOOKING, CELL PHONING AGE.' Why in the world are we belittling the world of Academia by legitimatizing the above said low-culture social mediums. Youtube,myspace, etc. are irrelevant and problematic social distractions in the world of Academics. These mediums should be castigated, not included or appealed to in any college environment.
This is part of the problem. Professors do not need to teach the students of today. What exactly are the students of today? A bunch of hyper-individualistic, pop-culture zombies who talk on their cell phones, and text message in class, in front of the professor! Others check their cell-phones 3 or 4 times a class to make sure they didn't miss a call. That's a bunch of garbage.TEXT MESSAGING, YOU TUBING, MYSPACING, FACEBOOKING, CELL PHONING IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. Students are so caught up in their own little pathetic, irrelevant world that they completely miss the true purpose of acquiring an education. A college degree is attained through hard work, discipline, fo
China
No "Gimmies" in China.
Its all capitalism my friends
As long as the United States continues to fuel every single thing, including healthcare and education, two things that should NEVER be the pawns, with cash based on the system of capitalism, this type of thing will continue to happen. I continue to assert that all public four year schools should be free, and completely merit based, and the number of spots should be limited by federal mandate per state. Community Colleges will remain open to all for a fee, for those who did poorly in high school, and need a fresh start, or people who need additional building of skills before they are prepaired for college. Until something like this happens, a majority of universities will continuously lower their standards simply chasing tuition dollars.
Something Rotten in Education
. . . When a professor is chided and fired for flunking people who do not know the material in the courses they take.
No need to post our credentials as a previous poster blew up requesting that from other posters. Many of us worked hard for our credentials for ourselves, for our own edification, not to wave as flags proving who we are. A credential is a piece of paper, only good if we who hold that piece of paper can accomplish what the document indicates we can accomplish. If we can't, it is mere toilet paper and employers know who issues degrees and who issues toilet paper.
NSU has a great opportunity to help those who may not make it into the great colleges and universities, but they MUST uphold standards of achievement; students MUST work and learn the material if they are to pass -- nothing less.
Perhaps if NSU took that tack, they could grow into a great institution. Now, however, they are a mere sniveling, snide smile in the mirror of academic achievement.
Low Standards
While there are some notable people who have graduated from NSU, that does not make it a good school. I have had the opportunity to take classes at NSU that were being offered through partnerships. I remember a senior level (400) class where the professor was reading directly from the text. After the first class, everyone sat with their highlighter and book, and that was the next 15 weeks. A graduate level class I took on issues in education left me conflicted with the professor. Her comment about my conclusions was not that they were unsupported by evidence (they were) but that the comments were too negative and I should put a more positive spin on things.
Frightening.
I was in a position of hiring later and NSU grads got lower preference.
NSU Professor
I was shocked to read the comments posted by some of the posters. I am a proud honor graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk and I believe that I received a great education. When I started college at Virginia Wesleyan in 2005, I felt very prepared for college level work. I also found, to my disappointment, that many of my colleagues who attended the "better" high schools in the area (i.e. Va. Beach, Chesapeake) were wholly unprepared for college level work. I personally witnessed students crying during a timed essay exam because they could not finish in the time we were given to complete the exam. My classmates, who dubbed my high school the "ghetto high school," were surprised when I not only finished the exam, but also earned an A. My English teacher in high school had been giving our class timed essay exams since I was in 10th grade. It is not about where you go to high school; it is about your work ethic. Sadly, some students do not have a strong work ethic, however; it is unfair and discriminatory to classify all Norfolk students in one group. Furthermore, I personally know quite a few students who have attended or are currently attending Norfolk State and thos
How many of these kids who
How many of these kids who recieved D's and F's attended class every day or did their assignments or maybe they didn't sleep through all the classes. It easy to blame the teacher for the failures. Kids today want to blame veverybody but themselves for their failures. It's time to take responsibility for your actions. I see it in my classes I take I couldn't imagine being a teacher and have to put up with the mentalitity of students today. They want the A without any effort. This profeesor should applauded for holding to his standards.